Below is an overview of the skills and tactical concepts you should be coaching players at this stage of their hockey journey.
If you need help with understanding these skills, there are several videos that can be found here!
| Skill | |
|---|---|
| Grip | Frying pan grip |
| Short handle grip | |
| Ball carrying | One-handed dribbling |
Forward lifted dribble | |
| Elimination | Change of pace (in contest) |
| Body positioning to protect the ball | |
| Lifting the ball (forehand/reverse) | |
| Distribution | Forehand sweep |
| Forehand one-touch/deflection | |
| Forehand lifted pass | |
| Forehand upright hit | |
| Forehand short-handle hit | |
| Receiving | Bouncing ball receiving |
| Goal scoring | Forehand upright hit/chip/choke |
| Rebounding & positioning | |
| Forehand/reverse stick deflection | |
| Winning the ball | Jab/poke tackle |
| Goalkeeping | Footwork |
| Angles/positioning | |
| Tactical Concepts | |
|---|---|
General concepts | Pre-scanning before receiving |
| Communication strategies | |
| Defensive concepts | Man-to-man |
| Engaging distance & timing | |
| Defending roles | |
| Regaining & transitions | |
| Offensive concepts | 2v1 attacking strategies |
| Verbal/non-verbal communication | |
| Transfer awareness | |
| Recognising numbers up/down | |
| Attacking roles | |
| Basics: Build & Improve (4 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 | Frying pan grip, Short handle grip, One-handed dribbling, Change of pace (in contest), Body positioning to protect the ball, Forehand sweep, Forehand upright hit, Forehand short handle hit, Jab/poke tackle | Weave, Zig-zag, All-Star dribble, Hockey chess, Hitting, Expanding tackle boxes |
| Week 2 | Frying pan grip, Short handle grip, One-handed dribbling, Change of pace (in contest), Body positioning to protect the ball, Forehand sweep, Forehand upright hit, Forehand short handle hit, Jab/poke tackle | Weave, Zig-zag, All-Star dribble, Hockey chess, Hitting, Expanding tackle boxes |
| Week 3 | Frying pan grip, Short handle grip, One-handed dribbling, Change of pace (in contest), Body positioning to protect the ball, Forehand sweep, Forehand upright hit, Forehand short handle hit, Jab/poke tackle, Man-to-man, 2v1 attacking strategies, | Weave, Zig-zag, All-Star dribble, Hockey chess, Hitting, Expanding tackle boxes |
| Week 4 | Frying pan grip, Short handle grip, One-handed dribbling, Change of pace (in contest), Body positioning to protect the ball, Forehand sweep, Forehand upright hit, Forehand short handle hit, Jab/poke tackle, Man-to-man, 2v1 attacking strategies, | Weave, Zig-zag, All-Star dribble, Hockey chess, Hitting, Expanding tackle boxes |
| Reinforce basics & introduce new skills (4 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 5 | Forward lifted dribble, Lifting the ball (Forehand/reverse), Forehand one-touch/deflection, Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection | Obstacle course (no shot), Wristed passing, Diamond loop, Triangle shuffle, Hitting (+ variations), Long passing |
| Week 6 | Forward lifted dribble, Lifting the ball (Forehand/reverse), Forehand one-touch/deflection, Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection | Obstacle course (no shot), Wristed passing, Diamond loop, Triangle shuffle, Hitting (+ variations), Long passing |
| Week 7 | Forward lifted dribble, Lifting the ball (Forehand/reverse), Forehand one-touch/deflection, Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection, Engaging distance & timing, Defending roles, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Transfer awareness, Attacking roles | Obstacle course (no shot), Wristed passing, Diamond loop, Triangle shuffle, Hitting (+ variations), Long passing |
| Week 8 | Forward lifted dribble, Lifting the ball (Forehand/reverse), Forehand one-touch/deflection, Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection, Engaging distance & timing, Defending roles, Verbal/non-verbal communication, Transfer awareness, Attacking roles | Obstacle course (no shot), Wristed passing, Diamond loop, Triangle shuffle, Hitting (+ variations), Long passing |
| Reinforce new skills & add tactical concepts (3 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 9 | Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection, Pre-scanning before receiving, Communication strategies | Wristed passing, Triangle shuffle, Obstacle course w/shot, Butterfly entry, Elimination entry, Entry tackle boxes, Cover defence, Expanding tackle boxes, Drag & Go |
| Week 10 | Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection, Pre-scanning before receiving, Communication strategies, Defending roles, Regaining & transitions, Recognising numbers up/down, Attacking roles | Wristed passing, Triangle shuffle, Obstacle course w/shot, Butterfly entry, Elimination entry, Entry tackle boxes, Cover defence, Expanding tackle boxes, Drag & Go |
| Week 11 | Forehand lifted pass, Bouncing ball receiving, Forehand upright hit/chip/choke, Rebounding & positioning, Forehand/reverse stick deflection, Pre-scanning before receiving, Communication strategies, Defending roles, Regaining & transitions, Recognising numbers up/down, Attacking roles | Wristed passing, Triangle shuffle, Obstacle course w/shot, Butterfly entry, Elimination entry, Entry tackle boxes, Cover defence, Expanding tackle boxes, Drag & Go |
| Reinforce everything above together (2 weeks) | Relevant Drills | |
|---|---|---|
Week 12 | Communication strategies, Defending roles, Regaining & transitions, Recognising numbers up/down, Attacking roles | Hockey chess, 3-goal game, Rollover w/goals, Rollover w/end-zones, Invasion |
| Week 13 | Communication strategies, Defending roles, Regaining & transitions, Recognising numbers up/down, Attacking roles | Hockey chess, 3-goal game, Rollover w/goals, Rollover w/end-zones, Invasion |
